Wig construction



S. J. GOLDMAN WIG CONSTRUCTION March 16, 1948.

Filed April 4, 1946 INVENTOR. J z

San-cue Patented Mar. 16, 1%48 STATES PATENT OFFICE wre CONSTRUCTIONSamuel J. Goldman, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 4, 1946, SerialNo. 659,541

8 Claims. (01. 132-53) The present invention relates to mens wigs and itrelates more particularly to a new and useful construction for mens wigswhich permits the Wigs to be worn comfortably for a period of severaldays or a week without removal.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and comfortableconstruction for mens wigs. Another object of the present invention isto provide a construction for mens wigs which can be worn comfortablyfor a period of several days or a week without removal. Still anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a mans wig which is lightand comfortable and natural in appearance and which can be worn, withoutremoval, for an extended period of time. A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a mans wig which is particularly adapted for warveterans who not only have lost their hair but also have lost the use oftheir hands so that they themselves are not capable of applying a wigand, instead, require the assistance of friends or relatives who may beavailable only once a week or so, for example, on Sundays.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent inthe following detailed description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings.

One of the tragedies of modern warfare is the fact that very many youngmen have been severely burned about the head and have lost their hair.Among the principal rehabilitation problems for veterans who have beenwounded in this manner is the provision of natural and life-like wigswhich are comfortable and easy to apply and which will remain in placefor a long period of time so that they can be worn night and day, Theproblem is a particularly serious one where the veteran, in addition tohaving lost his hair, has also lost use of his hands so that he,himself, is unable to apply a wig. In cases of this nature, it has beenfound highly desirable, in improving the morale of the veteran, if arelative or friend can aflix the wig for him. Inasmuch as such relativesor friends are frequently available only on week-ends, it is highlydesirable to provide a wig which can be applied and worn continuously,without removal, for a week or so. In order to make this possible, it isnecessary that the Wig be light-weight and extremely comfortable as wellas being capable of firm afiixation.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a newand useful type of mans wig, adapted particularly to meet the problemsoutlined above.

Generally speaking, in obtaining these objects, I may provide a wigconstruction which eliminates the uncomfortable spring-tensioned bindingribbon usually provided adjacent the nape of the neck in conventionalwigs, in order to main tain the wig in place. My novel wig construction,as will be more fully described hereinbelow, also eliminates theuncomfortable, relatively stiff stee1 stays usually required at variouspoints in conventional wig constructions heretofore employed. The wig ofthe present invention is formed generally on a base of closely-wovensilk fabric which is light-weight, comfortable, durable, relativelyshrink-proof and natural in appearance. The base is also provided withrelatively small portions constructed of fish-skin or other suitablewater-proof material to which a suitable adhesive can be applied inorder to maintain the wig in proper position upon the head.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in theaccompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 represents a rear view of a mans head with a wig in place.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of the inside of the wig with portionsbroken away for purposes of illustration.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the inside of the wig, the wigbeing turned inside out for purposes of illustration,

Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the wig by itself.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of a portion of the lining on agreatly enlarged scale.

One embodiment of the improved mans wig of this invention is made asfollows. The wig is designated in general by the reference character Win the drawings.

A base or scalp-engaging layer is formed of six parts 5, 6, l, 8, 9, andi0. These parts are each joined at two of their edges to two of theadjacent parts by tapes or bands, shown at H and i2, which are stitchedto the edges of the parts. These parts are so formed and so joinedtogether by the tapes or ribbons II and I2 that they form a layer whichclosely fits or engages the scalp of the wearer. This scalp-engaginglayer is conveniently made of closely woven, silk fabric or gauze, whichdoes not have perceptible meshes or perforations in it. The outer orfree edges of the front parts 5 and B and the outer or free edges of therear parts 9 and III are finished by being seamed or covered with anarrow ribbon or braid l3 or l4, similar to the tapes or ribbons H and[2.

Figure 5 shows on a greatly enlarged scale a small portion of the inneror under side of one of the scalp-engaging parts, for example, the rightfront part 5. Human or artificial hair is fastened to the scalp-engaginglayer by being.

passed through the cloth in loops .visible'from parting line or part inthe hair on the outer surface. This simulation is formed of a strip 30of closely woven silk gauze or the like, which is secured to the outersurface of the scalp-engaging parts 6 and 8 by rows of stitchingindicated at 3|. The strip 30 has, secured to its outer surface, aplurality of hairs arranged in rows as they would appear on the head ofa person and extending in opposite directions to form a parting line orpart between them. Since the fabric of which the strip 30 is formed isimperforate "as it appears to the eye of the observer, it looks Vexactly like the skin of a person with the hair the inside at I5. One orthree hairs arepassedi the interior at l5, and a knot is formed in thehairs on the outer side so as to hold the hair in position. Figures 1and 4 show that these strands or hairs-can be arranged inany, desiredpattern, for example, as shown in Figure 5, suitable portions of thehair [5 are arranged in straight rows as they would naturally appear onthe head of a person.

To secure the wig to the head of the user, Figure 2 shows that the wighas a front attaching part iii, of generally crescent shape, a pair ofside attaching parts I! and I8, of generally diamond shape, and a rearattaching part l9, of generally crescent shape. Each of these attachingparts l6, l1, l8 and I9 is secured to one or more of the adjacentscalp-engaging parts by means of tapes or ribbons similar to those shownat H, l2, and H. The outer or free edges of these attaching parts arelikewise finished or bound by means of narrow tapes or ribbons similarto the tapes or ribbons just mentioned. These attaching parts l6, l1, l8and I9 can read ily be made of a double layer of "fish skin which isadapted to have adhesive applied to it and removed from it whenever itis necessary to put on or take off the wig. The front attaching part l6has been broken away to show two short, relati-vely yielding steel stays20, which are located between the two layers of fish skin and serve tohold the attaching part flat against the forehead of the wearer of thewig. Figure 2 shOWs in greater detail the side attaching part l8 whichis a duplicate of the side attaching part I1 so that but one need bedescribed. The outer layer 22 of fish skin of the attaching part I8 isbroken away to show the inner layer of fish skin 2|.

Between the layers of fish skin 2| and 22, there is a stay 32 ofyielding steel or other material which serves to hold the attaching partI8 of the wig flat against the head of the user above and in front ofhis ears. A layer 23 of open mesh netting -01 other material havinglarge openings or perforations therein is connected to the attachingpart l8 and the adjacent scalpengaging part 6 and has a free, unfinishededge 24 projecting beyond it. On the outer side of this layer 23 of meshor netting is attached'short hair 25 which projectsbeyond it a slightdistance so as to lie flat against the head of the user or wearer of thewig and give a very natural appearance. Figure 2 shows that a similarlayer of open mesh material 26 having hair projecting beyond the edgesthereof is attached to the attaching part l'l. Likewise the rearattaching part l9 has a layer of open mesh ma terial 28 with short hair29 projecting beyond its edges.

The wig is provided with a simulation of a parted therefrom to exposeit.

The wig is secured to the head of the user by means of adhesive placedbetween the attaching parts IE, IT, l8 and I9 and the head of thewearer. This adhesive may either be liquid or in the form of adhesivetape, conveniently supplied coated on both sides and covered with alayer of detachable gauze for protection. Individual strips of thisadhesive tape are placed on the double fish-skin portions so that theadhesive lies between the front attaching portion IS, the side attachingportions I! and I8, and the ends of the rear attaching portion l9, andthe head of the user. In addition, a liquid adhesive is applied over thecentral portion of the rear attaching part l9 which covers the nape ofthe neck of the wearer of the wig. The wig is thus caused to adhere,closely and in a lifelike manner, to the head of the user, butnevertheless the Wig does not bind nor constrict the head and thereforeis comfortable enough so that it can be worn over night or for periodsof a week or so without removal.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not-restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A mans wig for covering the whole scalp including, a scalp coveringportion of relatively closely woven fabric having hair attached to it, aplurality of fastening portions each comprising at least two layers orplies of fish skin, the front fastening portion being small and curvedto conform generally to the forehead hair-line the rear fasteningportion being large and of generally crescent shape, said fasteningportions being adapted to have a layer of adhesive placed between themand the scalp of the wearer of the wig, and a layer of open mesh nettingoverlying at least one of said fastening portions and having anunfinished edge projecting outwardly beyond said fastening portion, saidopen mesh netting being covered with hair extending beyond the edgethereof so as to lie naturally against the head of the wearer of thewig.

2. A masculine wig covered with short hair comprising a substantiallyhemispherical scalp portion of closely woven silk fabric covered withhair, a pair of side fastening portions at either side of said scalpportion so as to be located in front of the ears, a forehead fasteningportion attached at the middle of the front of the scalp portion, and anape fastening portion connected to the rear of the scalp portion andextending substantially from one side fastening portion to the other,said forehead and side fastening portions being formed of at least twolayers of fish skin, a layer of open mesh netting overlying at least oneof said fastening portions and having relatively short hair attached toit andprojecting beyond it generally parallel to the plane of thenetting so that the hair lies closely against the head of the user in anatural manner.

3'. A short-haired wig comprising a body portion of closely woven fabricshaped to conform substantially to the scalp and covered on its outersurface with hair, a pair of side fastening portions each attached at aportion of its edge directly to a portion of the edge of said bodyportion, each of said portions having a reinforcement therein extendingsubstantially vertically, a front fastening portion attached along oneedge to a portion of the front edge of said body portion and having itsfree edge curved to conform generally to the forehead hair-line, a rearfastening portion attached along one edge to the rear edge of said bodyportion and having its free edge curved enerally convexly, said side andfront fastening portions being formed of at least two layers of fishskin, and a layer of open mesh netting overlying at least one of saidfastening portions and covered on its outer surface with hair whichextends beyond the edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe head of the wearer of the wig.

4. A natural-looking close-fitting masculine wig covered with short haircomprising a scalpfitting portion formed of a plurality of segments,each segment being attached to two others at two of the edges of saidsegment and having its free edge bound with a fiat braid or tape, saidattaching seams being likewise covered with a flat braid or tape, saidscalp-engaging portions all being formed of closely woven light weightfabric, a plurality of spaced attaching parts connected at a portion oftheir edges to a portion of the edges of said scalp-engaging parts andformed of a material suitable to have an adhesive attached thereto anddetached therefrom when necessary to wear or take off the wig, a layerof open mesh netting covering at least one of said attaching parts andhaving an unfinished edge extending [beyond the free edge of saidattaching part, and closely lying projecting hair having free endsextending beyond the unfinished edge of said netting and lying closelyadjacent the head of the wearer of the wig so as to provide a naturalappearance.

5. For covering the entire scalp of the wearer, a mans wig comprising agenerally cup-shaped main body portion of relatively closely wovenfabric or the like having hair attached thereto, side fastening portionsaffixed to the edges of said main body portion and extending downwardtherebeyond so as to lie in front of the ears of the wearer, said sidefastening portions being formed of a multi-ply construction, at leastone of the .plies being of a generally waterproof ma terial, and a layerof open mesh netting overly-- ing each of said side fastening portionsand extending therebeyond to approximate the normal side hair-line, thefree edge of said netting being unfinished, said netting being coveredwith hair lying generally flat thereagainst, the outermost hairsextending beyond the unfinished edge of the netting so as to lienaturally against the head of the wearer.

6. For covering the entire scalp of the wearer, a mans wig comprising agenerally cup-shaped main body portion of relatively closely wovenfabric or the like having hair attached thereto,

shape afiixed to the main body portion and constructed and arranged toextend generally from ear to ear-of the wearer, said rear fasteningportion being of multi-ply construction, at least one of the plies beingformed of relatively thin waterproof material, and a layer of open meshnetting overlying said rear fastening portion and extending downwardlytherebeyond, said netting being covered with hair, the lowermost hairsextending beyond the edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe neck of the wearer.

7. For covering the entire scalp of the wearer, a mans wig comprising agenerally cup-shaped main body portion of relatively closely wovenfabric or the like having hair attached thereto, side fastening portionsafiixed to the edges of said main body portion and extending downwardtherebeyond so as to lie in front of the ears of the wearer, said sidefastening portions being formed of a multi-ply construction, at leastone of the plies being of a generally waterproof material, a layer ofopen mesh netting overlying each of said side fastening portions andextending therebeyond to approximate the normal side hair-line, the freeedge of said netting being unfinished, said netting being covered withhair lying generally fiat thereagainst, the outermost hairs extendingbeyond the unfinished edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe head of the wearer, a rear fastening portion of generally crescentshape afiixed to the main body portion and constructed and arranged toextend generally from ear to ear of the wearer, said rear fasteningportion being of multi-ply construction, at least one of the plies beingformed of relatively thin waterproof material, and a layer of open meshnetting overlying said rear fastening portion and extending downwardlytherebeyond, saidnetting being covered with hair, the lowermost hairsextending beyond the edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe neck of the wearer.

8. For covering the entire scalp of the wearer, a mans wig comprising agenerally cup-shaped main body portion of relatively closely wovenfabric or the like having hair attached thereto, side fastening portionsaffixed to the edges of said main body portion and extending downwardtherebeyond so as to lie in front of the ears of the wearer, said sidefastening portions bein formed of a multi-ply construction, at least oneof the plies being of a generally waterproof material, a layer of openmesh netting overlying each of said side fastening portions andextending therebeyond to approximate the normal side hair-line, the freeedge of said netting being unfinished, said netting being covered withhair lying generally flat thereagainst, the outermost hairs extendingbeyond the unfinished edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe head of the wearer, a rear fastening portion of generally crescentshape affixed to the main body portion and constructed and arranged toextend generally from ear to ear of the wearer, said rear fasteningportion being of multi-ply construction, at least one of the plies beingformed of relatively thin waterproof material, a layer of open meshnetting overlying said rear fastening portion and extending downwardlytherebeyond, said netting being covered with hair, the lowermost hairsextending beyond the edge of the netting so as to lie naturally againstthe neck of the wearer, a front fastening portion fastened to the frontof the main body portion and hav- 7 8 ing its free edge curved tocorrespond generally with the normal forehead hair-line, said frontREFERENCES CITED I fastening portion being covered with hair and Thefollowing references are of record in the being of a multi-plyconstruction, at least one of file Of s P t t: said plies being ofrelatively thin waterproof ma- 5- terial, all of said fastening portionsbeing con- UNITED STATES PATENTS structed and arranged to permit theapplication Number N m Date of adhesive to the underside thereof, foraflixa- 1,144,653 Lombard June 1915 tion to the head of the wearer.2,233,100 J evnikar Feb. 25, 1941 SAMUEL J. GOLDMAN. 10

